Mets Willing To Do More Backloaded Contracts

Marc Carig of Newsday writes that the Mets will be more willing to get creative with backloaded contracts, according to a person with knowledge of the team’s thinking, in order to entice free agents with more money and multi-year offers. Those tactics could come into play at this week’s winter meetings in Nashville.

“You can borrow some from the future,” said a person with knowledge, who called finding an outfielder the team’s priority.

According to the source, the Mets see themselves as “close enough” to a clean slate payroll wise to consider adding future obligations.

For now, the Mets’ only major payroll obligations in 2014 are the contracts of David Wright and Jonathon Niese which add up to about $25 million dollars.

Obviously, that $25 million doesn’t include Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy and Bobby Parnell who could add another $15 million assuming they are still with the team in 2014 and not traded or non-tendered. It also doesn’t include R.A. Dickey who could be extended to 2015.

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